The visit was intended to be symbolic of the goodwill between the two countries, but unbeknownst to Reagan and deputy chief of staff Michael Deaver, 49 of the graves contained the remains of men who had served in the Waffen-SS. The cemetery also contained remains of about 2000 other German soldiers who had died in both World Wars, but no Americans.
Reagan defended himself by saying that "I think that there's nothing wrong with visiting that cemetery where those young men are victims of Nazism also, even though they were fighting in the German uniform, drafted into service to carry out the hateful wishes of the Nazis. They were victims, just as surely as the victims in the concentration camps." Reagan was right.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BitburgThe US administration wasn't aware of those facts and the place was maybe poorly chosen. But in principle Reagan was right.
If De Gaulle, Mitterand can say to the Germans "we forgive" (but don't forget), so should the US be able to do, specially when the US never suffered any losses on its own territory. By the way apologies to natives, apologies for slavery, apologies to Vietnam, future apologies to Iraq ? Other countries with similar backgrounds have done it. Why not the US ?
and this story relation to the port story is artificial .... or will 9/11 firemen start sending back their medals ? I'd be curious to see that..